“The quill brush was initially ‘just to try out’… I can now see it becoming a ‘go-to’ for its versatility, comfortable size and it also holds a lot of liquid!” – artist Michelle Lodge
Jackson’s Icon Synthetic and Sable/Micro-Synthetic Mix Brushes
A mix of tradition and modern technology, Jackson’s Icon brushes are a blend of sable hairs and Micro-Synthetic fibres. They represent the advancement of science combined with the classic needs of the traditional watercolour artist. The mottler brushes and the quill brushes are made with all synthetic.
The uniqueness of the Micro-Synthetic fibre is twofold. Firstly the fibres are treated to produce millions of tiny indentations. This increases the surface area of the hairs allowing a much greater colour holding capacity for the brush. The hairs are then treated with a special process that frees the micro-synthetic fibres of any static electricity which makes brush fibres stick together. After which the hairs can smoothly and precisely react to any kind of stroke, either delicate or abrupt. By then mixing these with natural sable hairs we create a brush that behaves like a pure sable but at a fraction of the price.
The Jackson’s Icon mix of sable and Micro-Synthetic fibres is available in a round brush and a flat brush. The Quill brush (with a synthetic quill, not a natural feather quill) is 100% micro-synthetic fibres. We have added a mottler in more recent years. It is also made with 100% micro-synthetic fibres. They have all received excellent reviews. Artists are especially passionate about the Quill brush.
The Jackson’s Icon Quill Brush
The Icon Quill brush is made with a synthetic quill and Micro-Synthetic fibres. The full belly is useful for washes and the fine point is great for control. It has just the right amount of softness and spring. It is available in six sizes. It has received rave reviews!
Jackson’s Icon Brushes Set
Michelle Lodge has written a helpful review on our website of the Jackson’s Icon Brush Set.
The set contains 3 brushes:
1 x Jackson’s Icon Sable and Micro-Synthetic Mix Brush Series 700 Round Brush, Size 8
1 x Jackson’s Icon Sable and Micro-Synthetic Mix Brush Series 702 Flat Brush, Size 1/2
1 x Jackson’s Icon Sable and Micro-Synthetic Mix Brush Series 777 Quill Round Brush, Size 2
“Along with several other Jackson’s watercolour brushes I ordered this set, which I also made up in to a full set of rounds and the 3/4″ and 1″ flats. I am delighted with all the brushes -and am both surprised and delighted at the shape retention, holding capacity and pointing of the quill brush. I purchased the set knowing that I wanted the round and flat in those sizes anyway, but the quill brush was initially ‘just to try out’… I can now see it becoming a ‘go to’ for its versatility, comfortable size and it also holds a lot of liquid! All arrived in perfect condition, very well protected by plenty of packaging, and very quick delivery. These came in the 1st delivery of 2 I have so far made, and I shall be ordering again soon.”
We’ve chosen this useful review to be the ‘Product Review of the Month‘.
Click on the underlined link to go to the Jackson’s Icon Synthetic and Sable/Synthetic Mix Brushes on the Jackson’s Art Supplies website.
Brush-only orders over £20 have free worldwide shipping.
6 thoughts on “Jackson’s Icon Watercolour Brushes”
I am really struggling with your website trying to buy some watercolour paints. I can’t find an add to cart icon
Hi Mal
I’m sorry to hear you are having trouble.
It is a green button right above the column of boxes where you add your quantity.
I will email you a snapshot now that may help.
Have you changed the specs for the Icon
brush line? In this blog, you allude to the
Icon as a mix of sable and synthetic
fibres across the board.
In the e-shop, you say ‘The Quills and
Mottlers feature the micro-synthetic
sable and are vegan-friendly. Other
brush shapes in the Icon series feature a
mix with natural sable hairs…’
Do mottlers and quills produced/sold
now contain natural sable hairs
(September 2020)?
Hi Rado
When we first got these brushes we misunderstood the maker and didn’t realise that not all the brushes in the Icon range were a mix.
From the beginning, the mottlers and quills have been 100% synthetic. Only the round and flats are a mix with natural sable.
When we understood this we corrected our information. I thought I had corrected it in all the places that they were mentioned, but I missed it in this blog article. I will edit this post today. Thanks for letting us know.
Hi Julie,
I’d really like to know where the sable hair comes from to make
Jacksons sable/ synthetic’Icon’ brushes please.
I’m not a vegan, but would still like to know.
Hi Louise
The source is the same as any other sable brush, from the sable animal and brush makers buy hair from various suppliers but the vast majority comes from Northern Russia.
Just to note- there isn’t a great deal of sable in these brushes, but enough to make them work well.
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